1 mastering the mechanics of writing part 2: structuring sentences rachel grammer writing instructor...
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Mastering the Mechanics of Writing Part 2: Structuring Sentences
Rachel GrammerWriting InstructorWalden University Writing Center
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Housekeeping
• Muting
• Questions
• Tech trouble? http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/GoToTraining
• Recording: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/415.htm
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Agenda
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Why grammar, anyway?
To move clearly from internal thought to external communication.
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Phrases
NO SUBJECTS OR VERBS ALLOWED
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What is a phrase?
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Types of phrases: Adjective
Phrases can describe nouns:
Filled with joy, the girl jumped up and down.
The man with the red jacket is my father.
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Types of phrases: Adverb
Phrases can also describe verbs (or adverbs):
He performed the research to see if the embryo would react to changes in external lighting.
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Phrases and fragments
A phrase by itself is considered a sentence fragment.
After the experimentAccording to Johnson
Running down the road
Revisions: • Running down the road, the athlete completed the race. • After the experiment, the researcher slept.• The sun is bright, according to Johnson (2013).
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Phrases and citationsIf you use an author in the text, often you will
use a phrase to introduce your in-text citation:
• According to Zuckerman’s (2013) study, APA is considered fun by most students.
• As a result of Grammer’s (2013) research, the leadership quality increased.
• In Nadeau et al.’s book (2013), the authors discussed the correlation between rap music and motivation.
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Clauses
SUBJECT + VERB
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Definitions
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Types of clauses: Independent/Dependent
Clauses can be both independent and dependent.
• An independent clause can stand by itself as a complete sentence.
• A dependent clause must be connected to an independent clause or complete sentence. It cannot stand on its own.
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Connecting Clauses
Words such as after, because, though, since, before, if, when, although, while, as, and so on are words that often connect clauses.
The study failed because the research was invalid.
While the snow was blowing, someone told me it was the first day of spring.
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Clauses AND Phrases
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Types: Introductory
• Provide additional information• Not part of main structure or idea of sentence
after before despite etc.
CLAUSE: After they had attended the faculty meeting, the department chairs agreed to submit their requests to the dean.
PHRASE: According to Mendez (2003), 67% of college freshman at resident universities experience some degree of homesickness.
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Clauses, phrases, and citations
Clauses and phrases can help you to introduce in-text citations in APA.
Phrase: According to Grammer’s (2013) study comparing speaking and writing discourse strategies, language is fluid.
Clause: Though Nadeau (2013) argued that chocolate is good for human beings, other sources claimed that it is unhealthy when eaten in bulk quantities.
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Clauses/Phrases and heads*
If your phrase or clause has a “head,” be sure that it is attached.
The man who did the research studied frogs.
The man studied frogs who did the research.
*Based on concepts presented by Black, K. (2005). Guide for the advancing grammarian: An exploration of English for writers and teachers. St. Paul, MN: Kitelko Publishing
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Misplaced modifiers
When a head is separated from its clause, this is a misplaced modifier:
The study that was extremely difficult was eventually published by a famous researcher.
The study was eventually published by a famous researcher that was extremely difficult.
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Dangling modifiers
When you begin a sentence with a description of an action, the very next word must be the
head.
Dangling: Racing across the finish line, her shoe fell off.
Revision: Racing across the finish line, she lost her shoe.
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Run-on sentences
Run-on sentences occur when you have multiple clauses and phrases that are not connected.
The man completed the study by researching the disease that was unpreventable the man discovered a preventative injection.
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Fragments
Phrases or dependent clauses that are not connected to an independent clause.
Being a child, he felt inadequate to compete.Although he was small, he was strong.Because he wanted to run, he signed up for the
race.
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Mixed Sentence Construction
Mixed sentence construction happens when the beginning of the sentence does not
match the end.
• By implementing the study completed the research process.
Introductory Phrase
Fragment
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Revision: By implementing the study, the researcher was able to better predict the behavior of red-winged blackbirds in wetlands in Illinois.
Revision: A distribution of a final survey completed the research process.
Mixed Sentence Construction
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Exercise Time!
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Sentences and word choice
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Types of Sentences
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Structure and Parts
• Simple: Made up of an independent clause– He performed research.
• Compound: Made up of two or more independent clauses.– He performed the research, and he won an award
for his strong work.
*Sentence type definitions adapted from Purdue OWL
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Structure and Parts
• Complex: Made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.– Although he had never been a good student in
high school, he graduated from university summa cum laude.
• Compound-complex: Made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.– The rain was falling, and the weather was cold,
though it was supposed to be spring.
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Parallelism
Parallelism in writing is similar to mathematics.
Parallel list: The men, women, and children were all enthralled by the fireworks.
Not parallel: The men with hats on, women were sitting on blankets, and the eyes of the children were all enthralled by the fireworks.
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Parallelism
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Agreement
Number and gender must agree
Pronoun agreement:
• The student has to take his or her test.• The team won its prize.• Teachers are role models to their
students.
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Agreement
Verb agreement:
• The idea for electric light bulbs as they exist today was from Edison.
• The group of children was prominent in the research results.
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Passive voice
Indicators:• Form of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been)• -ed or –en form of the verb• “by” phrase
Passive: The research was completed, the surveys were finished, and the results were written by the author.
Active: I completed the research, finished the surveys, and wrote the results.
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You get to choose!
Original: In my research, I studied the effects of sleep deprivation. I did an exhaustive literature review first. I determined a quantitative focus second. I began to create a survey.
Revision: In my research, I studied the effects of sleep deprivation. After performing an exhaustive literature review, I chose a quantitative focus and began to create a survey.
Varying Sentence Structure
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Exercise Time!
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Resources
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Resources: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/
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